In 2025, for the first time in four years, Fortnite did not hold its annual Rainbow Royale event dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Since 2021, Fortnite has annually hosted a summer Pride event called Rainbow Royale. This event was never extensive, usually offering free rainbow-themed items in the shop, such as the “Take a `Bow” and “The Dip” emotes. In 2022, a Pride-themed battle bus and special quests were even added for unique weapon wraps and pickaxes, along with a skin for DC`s transgender superhero, Dreamer. However, this marked the peak of involvement; the event never altered gameplay in Battle Royale. Last year, it was limited solely to a shop section, available for a week in both June and September.
In 2025, however, Rainbow Royale was completely absent. For the first time since the event`s introduction, Fortnite reached October without any mention of Rainbow Royale in the game. No free Pride items have been available in the shop throughout this year. Even the paid Mazy skin, usually part of this section, appeared for only a single day in 2025.
Throughout the year, many corporations, including those in the gaming industry, have been observed becoming less progressive, seemingly to appease political powers. Earlier this year, the MMO RuneScape faced criticism for omitting new Pride event content, despite staff reportedly having completed some of the work. Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy explained that Pride “is now controversial in a way it didn`t used to be and that controversy now brings more risk than it did previously, risk that I`m personally responsible to protect against.”
Given Epic`s lack of public comment on Rainbow Royale`s status, it is difficult not to conclude that the creators of Fortnite, much like Jagex with RuneScape, are attempting to hedge their bets.